"Dear Steve, I saw a patient this morning with your book [in hand] and highlights throughout. She loves it and finds it very useful to help her in dealing with atrial fibrillation."

Dr. Wilber Su,Cavanaugh Heart Center, Phoenix, AZ

"...masterful. You managed to combine an encyclopedic compilation of information with the simplicity of presentation that enhances the delivery of the information to the reader. This is not an easy thing to do, but you have been very, very successful at it."

Ira David Levin, heart patient, Rome, Italy

"Within the pages of Beat Your A-Fib, Dr. Steve Ryan, PhD, provides a comprehensive guide for persons seeking to find a cure for their Atrial Fibrillation."

Walter Kerwin, MD, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA

FAQ Minerals Deficiencies: Excess Iron

“Can excess iron in the blood (Iron Overload Disease, IOD) cause Atrial Fibrillation? How do I know if I have IOD? What can I do about it?”

Yes, not only does excess iron in the blood trigger or predispose you to A-Fib, it injures and eventually can kill a variety of body organs like the liver and gall bladder.

Excess iron is toxic and can injure every part of the body, including the brain. Iron Overload is a much more widespread condition than people are aware of affecting approximately 1 out of 6 people in the United States. One can develop excess iron by absorbing too much from supplements, iron-rich diet, tobacco and other sources.

When you have your annual physical exam, your doctor should check for iron overload. The most common tests are:

1. Transferrin saturation (TS), also called “Percentage of Saturation.” After fasting, blood is taken to measure Total Iron Binding Capacity (TIBC) and Serum Iron (SI). SI is divided by TIBC to get the Percentage of Saturation. A safe range is 12-44%. Over that is considered iron overload.
2.Serum ferritin concentration (stored iron). A safe range is 5-150. (If the TS test comes out OK, this test may not be done.)
3. Hemoglobin: Iron is used by the body for hemoglobin production. Hemoglobin is the iron-containing respiratory pigment in red blood cells. The top normal level is 14 for women, 15 for men.
4. Red blood cells: the percentage by volume of packed red blood cells in a given sample of blood after centrifugation (i.e. the percentage of red blood cells in your blood). The top normal level is 42 for women, 45 for men.
5. Unbound Iron Binding Capacity (UIBC) is another test, but is used less frequently. A safe range is above 146. If you’re below that, you should be treated for iron overload.

Pre-menopausal women normally loose blood monthly thereby lowering their iron levels. In men the iron just accumulates with age. “Unfortunately, the body has no way to rid itself of excess iron.”

To get your iron levels down, you may have to give blood through a phlebotomy program at your doctor’s office or blood bank as often as once or twice a week. Drugs known as chelators can also remove excess iron from the blood.

To prevent iron overload (IOD), many of us, particularly men, would benefit from donating blood on a regular basis. “When you donate blood, the life you save may be your own.”

Disclaimer: the authors of this Web site are not medical doctors and are not affiliated with any medical school or organization. The information on this site is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health professional prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Nothing contained in this service is intended to be for medical diagnosis or treatment.